Farooq Questions Pakistan's Stand on Jammu and Kashmir

14th August 1998Hindustan Times

SRINAGAR, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has questioned Pakistan's locus stand) on seeking resolution of Kashmir saying that the
issue was settled five decades ago when the people tied their destiny with
India. "We will prosper and progress with rest of the country," he added.
In a message to the people on the eve of the 51st Independence Day, the
Chief Minister said, Pakistan is trumpeting on Kashmir, forgetting that the
people of Jammu and Kashmir had discarded the two-nation theory and chosen
to align with India."Pakistan, after failing to get Kashmir in three wars,
pushed in mercenaries and indoctrinated some of our youth to further their
game plan. A large number of people were killed, schools, bridges and other
infrastructure build over the years were destroyed by the militants in the
past eight years." Recalling the recent massacres engineered by
Pak-sponsored mercenaries at Wandhama, Prankote, Dhakikote, Chamba and Doda,
Mr Abdullah said this is against the tenets of Islam. Pakistan has not
reciprocated India's initiative for peace and friendly relations between the
two countries. Mr Abdulllah said, adding that their guns have not stopped
roaring. The people of the State had made known their choice when democracy
returned to the State two years ago. Mr Abdullah added.

The people of the
state and the country want good relations with Pakistan which in effect would help in blossoming trade, commerce and cultural exchange between the countries. Mr Abdullah hoped that good sense would prevail over Pakistan and
it would halt its nefarious designs in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the achievements of the State, the Chief Minister said, "We are
on our way to progress and economic development" He, however, said but for
the cancer of corruption, the level of progress would have been much higher.